Before taking on the Red Sox last week, the shortstop was mired in a 1-for-19 slump that had knocked his average down to .183. But in 20 at-bats since, through Friday's game against Tampa Bay, he was 8 for 20.

“It's been hot and cold,” Pennington, 27, told the San Francisco Chronicle. “That's not what I want. I really don't know what it is.”

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Oakland is willing to be patient. The sure-handed infielder, hitting .224 entering Saturday, batted .264 last season and has shown he can be a torrid streak hitter.

His home run against Rays ace David Price on Friday was his first of the season.

“Part of it is a confidence thing,” the former Texas A&M standout told the paper. “When you struggle, you're not having as much fun. And when you swing at better pitches, you feel better at the plate, you're looser, and you play better.”

Finding Goldschmidt again: The Arizona Diamondbacks are looking for former Texas State standout Paul Goldschmidt to provide the kind of power he showcased last season in the minor leagues, when he hit 30 home runs and knocked in 94 runs before being called up to the majors Aug. 1.

Entering weekend play, however, Goldschmidt hadn't homered since the season opener.

The first baseman, 24, is hitting .243 with the one homer, adding 11 RBIs and nine runs scored. Over the past five games through Friday, however, he was 8 for 20 with three doubles and five runs scored.

He hit a two-run double to tie Arizona's game against the Mets on Friday, then scored the winning run. Goldschmidt, an eighth-round draft pick in 2009, was the USA Today Minor League Player of the Year last year.